ANKENY – Ankeny has been named one of the top places to live in the United States, earning the No. 4 national ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Places to Live list, the city announced Tuesday.
The city, a suburb of Des Moines, ranked fourth out of 250 places included in the national ranking and was named the No. 1 place to live in Iowa. The recognition marks a major jump for Ankeny, which ranked No. 18 nationally last year.
U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 850 cities across the country before ranking the top 250. The rankings were based on how well communities meet expectations for people looking for a place to live, including measures tied to value, job market, desirability and quality of life.
“Moving from No. 18 to No. 4 in the nation is a meaningful recognition of the work happening across our community,” Ankeny City Manager Mike Schrock said. “Ankeny continues to stand out because of its high-quality services, safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, strong job market and quality of life. This ranking reflects the long-term vision of our elected officials, the dedication of City staff and the many community partners who help make Ankeny a place where people want to live, work and invest.”
According to the city, this year’s ranking was based on four major measures that were weighted in part through a public survey of thousands of people across the United States. The survey asked respondents what qualities they consider most important when choosing a place to live.
The methodology also included data from government sources, private-sector information and U.S. News internal resources.
Ankeny, located in central Iowa, has grown into one of the state’s larger and faster-growing communities. The city is home to more than 76,000 residents and promotes itself as a safe, vibrant community with strong schools, parks, trails and municipal services.
The city has also previously been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Small City in America.
More information about the rankings is available from U.S. News & World Report.